model: The Portuguese Synagogue

The synagogue was inaugurated in 1675 and remains active. The synagogue has remained virtually unchanged since it was built by Jews who escaped the terrors of the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal. The wooden floor, in accordance with Dutch custom, is covered with a thin layer of sand, whose function is to absorb dirt and moisture and to muffle the sounds of footsteps. The synagogue is not connected to the electrical grid; to this day, it is illuminated and heated by hundreds of candles.